“Not worried about Nandigram, worried about democracy”, says Mamata Banerjee, pointing out poll body’s “silence” & Home Minister’s “instructions”

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that she was “not worried about Nandigram but worried about democracy”, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not allowed free and fair elections in the state today. Trinamool Congress has been alleging since morning that the BJP has been looting votes in several booths of Nandigram, where Mamata Banerjee is contesting against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

“The BJP candidate here (Suvendu Adhikari) has resorted to hooliganism, threatening our workers and voters since last evening. Abu Taher, our leader, was threatened, among others,” she said, after coming out of booth number 7 in Boyal area of Nandigram, where she remained stuck for close to two hours, as BJP workers shouted Jai Shree Ram slogans outside. Police had a tough time containing the crowd in which BJP and Trinamool Congress workers clashed among themselves.

Banerjee was taken out after a huge contingent of police came to the area and escorted her out of the booth. By then, she had called Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and briefed him about the situation.

“I do not blame the Central paramilitary force personnel. They are under fear, and carrying out instructions of the Home Minister of the country,” Banerjee said. She was also sarcastic about the “silence” of the Election Commission. “I am really sorry to say that the Election Commission of India is silent, and supporting the BJP candidates, blatantly” she said, adding that the Trinamool has made several complaints, but the EC has not acted on them. “This is harming democracy in our country. I have not seen a worse election than this one,” she said.

Banerjee said that she would “still” win the election from Nandigram, where “90 per cent of people have voted for us”. “People will give a fitting reply to this,” she said.

Banerjee also raised questions on why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting Bengal on every election day and addressing people and influencing elections. “Is it not violation of the election code of conduct?” she asked.

The Bengal CM also asked the BJP leaders and the Home Minister to take note of the fact that BJP workers were molesting women journalists in their rallies. “Please ask your leaders to control your members, I have never seen an election like this before,” Banerjee said.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien wrote to the Election Commission alleging “booth capture” by BJP workers in Nandigram. “Huge mob of BJP workers have entered booth no.s 6, 7, 49, 27, 162, 21, 26, 13, 262, 256, 163, 20. BJP workers attempting to take control of EVM & rigging the booth,” he wrote.